Molecular Fingerprint of Amphioxus Frontal Eye Illuminates the Evolution of Homologous Cell Types in the Chordate Retina

0539696 - ÚMG 2021 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Pergner, Jiří - Vávrová, Anna - Kozmiková, Iryna - Kozmik, Zbyněk
Molecular Fingerprint of Amphioxus Frontal Eye Illuminates the Evolution of Homologous Cell Types in the Chordate Retina.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Roč. 8, August (2020), č. článku 705. ISSN 2296-634X. E-ISSN 2296-634X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA17-15374S
Institutional support: RVO:68378050
Keywords : chordates * eye evolution * light detection * vision * gene expression * photoreceptors * interneurons * Notch signaling
OECD category: Developmental biology
Impact factor: 6.684, year: 2020
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2020.00705/full

The evolution of the vertebrate eye remains so far unresolved. Amphioxus frontal eye pigment cells and photoreceptors were proposed to be homologous to vertebrate photoreceptors and retinal pigmented epithelium, based on ultrastructural morphology and gene expression analysis inB. floridae. Here, we present comparative molecular data using two additional amphioxus species, a closely relatedB. lanceolatum, and the most divergentA. lucayanum. Taking advantage of a unique set of specific antibodies we characterized photoreceptors and putative interneurons of the frontal eye and investigated its neuronal circuitry. Our results corroborate generally conserved molecular fingerprint among cephalochordate species. Furthermore, we performed pharmacological perturbations and found that the Notch signaling pathway, a key regulator of retina development in vertebrates, is required for correct ratios among frontal eye cell types. In summary, our study provides a valuable insight into cell-type relationships in chordate visual organs and strengthens the previously proposed homology between amphioxus frontal eye and vertebrate eyes.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0317404